Starting device



Jan. 23, 1941. H. CORDES ETAL l 2,230,181

` STARTING DEVICE -4 Filed Jn. 11, 1938 4 sneetsvsneet 1 H. CORDES EI'ALSTARTING DEVICE Jan. 28, 1941.

Filed Jan. 1l, 1938' Figlla 5 v 4 Sheets-Sheelt 2 Jam@ Jan. 28, 1941. HcoRDl-:S EjAL.

STARTING DEVICE n l4 sheets-sheet s Filed Jan. 11, 1938 5 nwwnmuu Alun.-d

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l l SI\\\\\\\ f s Jan. 28, 1941. H, @RDES ETAL 2,230,181

STARTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 11,` 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 28,A1941 PATENT oFFicE STARTING DEVICE llugo Cordes and Paul Pfeiffer,Hamburg- Altona, Germany Application January 11, 1938, Serial No.184,500 In Germany February 2, 1937 5 Claims.

In starting devices of this type at presentv known a disadvantage arisesfrom the fact that the grip device for lifting the ram can be releasedand the ram can be dropped only if the hammer rests upon the pile. Thedrop and downward acceleration of the rain consequently begin only afterthe hammer rests upon the pile, so that only the rarnniing and fallingheight provided within the cylinder will be available fol' startingpurposes. When cold the oil in the cylinder is very viscous and Oltendirticd by iinpurities from the exhaust gases. Besides, a vacuum resultsabove. the ram during its dropping, which vacuum cannot be completelyovercorne by the air inlet valve, it being not possible for practicalreasons to make such valve of adequate size, to entirely prevent theformation of a partial vacuum. In cold weather the falling heightavailable for starting under these conditions will not suice, it istherefore desirable to raise the lifted ram together with the cylinderfrom the pile and to simultaneously drop both parts. At the time of thecylinders meeting the pile the ram will have such a falling speed thatin connection with the falling speed given the ram when falling withinthe cylinder, it will suice for starting. For ythis purpose a gripdevice is required which reliably releases the ram when the cylinder hasmet the pile.

In Figs. 1-14 some embodiments of the invention are schematicallyrepresented, by way of example.

Fig. l is a view of one form of the starting device in longitudinalsection, the longitudinally movable tie-rod with the grip-hook beingheld from rotation;

' Fig. 2 shows a second form of the device with the grip-hook engaged;

Fig. 3 is a view of the device shown in Fig. 2 but with the grip devicelowered and the coupling bar disengaged;

Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, and partly.

in elevation of a third form of grip-device and a ram and cylinder, theram being in its lower- I most position (Cl. 12S-7) Fig. 5 is a verticalsection at right angles to Fig. 4, with the ram lifted by the gripdevice to its uppermost position in the cylinder;

Fig'. 6 shows in detail the upper part of the cylinder of Fig. 5 and thegrip device on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, the grip device being released;

Fig. 8 is an edge'view of a special form of a chain used in this thirdform;

Fig. 8a. is a face View of this chain;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of the upper part of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line X-X of Fig. 9;

Fig. l1 is a detail of the latching means on a greatly enlarged scale;

Fig. l2 is a front view of a certain cage used in the third form;

Fig. 13 is a side View of this cage; and

Fig. 14 is a plan-view of this cage.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 there is disclosed a cylinder casing Ithrough the top of which a tie-rod 2 is arranged t0 slide vertically. Tothe said tie-rod a grip-hook I0 is pivotally fixed, being urged to itsengaged positionby a spring II. In the cylinder casing I is journalled ashaft 'I on which is fixed a hook 3. Also the shaft I has fixed thereona lever 8 to which is attached a rope I4. The hook 3 is held in engagedposition beneath an arm Ia of the hook lil by a spring 4. The cylindercasing I may rest upon` a support. for instance, a pile. Inside the saidcasing is a vertically movable rain I3. When dropping down, the said ramstrikes the said support. The ram I3 is provided with a recess I3ahaving a peripheral groove 33 in which the grip-hook I0 may engage. Akey I5 engages a splineway I5a so that the tie-rod 2 is prevented fromrotating. The lifting rope I6 is fixed to the tie-rod 2.

In the embodiment according to Figs. 2 and 3, the grip-hook Ib ispivoted to the lower end of a `v`movablesleeve 5. Vertically above thepoint where the grip-hook Ib engages the ram I3c, the grip-hook restswith the face of its hooked portion on the tie-rod 2a. The upwardmovenient of the said sleeve 5 is limited by a collar I8 xed on atie-rod 2a. By means of a plunger or dog 3a urged to engage a groove 2eon the sleeve 5 by a spring 4a the said sleeve 5 may be latched to thecylinder casing Ia. A shaft 'Ia is mounted on the cylinder la and haslevers 6a and 8a, xed thereto, the lever 6a engaging the dog 3a and thelever 8a being connected to a rope Maf,

.The dog'3a can be disengaged by means of levers 6a and 8a upon drawingon the rope Ida.

Ifthe ram is elevated in the cy'nnder and the cylinder and ram aredropped on a pile which allows the hoisting rope,|6 to go slack, thetierod continues to descend due to its own weight until the collar I8cornes to rest on the sleeve 5 which is held by dog 3a. The variousparts are now in the position shown in Fig. 3 except for the fact thatthe sleeve is latched to the top of the cylinder. during this furtherdescent of the tie-rod 2a and disengages the hook Ib from the ram |3c.However, the'latch I2 only maintains the hook Illb v in its disengagedposition when the hoisting rope I6 is slack and the sleeve 5 is held atthe top of the cylinder by the dog 3a.

The upper portion IIld ofthe hook meniber IIb functions in the followingmanner. When the member 2a is depressed, the member I2 tilts the hooi;to free it from engagement with the member I 3c, but when the member 2ais raised after the latch has been depressed by contact with the ram I3c, the portion IIld is engaged by the portion 2e fand is biased toengage with the member I3c.

In the forms shown in Figs. 2-3 the ram is provided with a bore 39 forguided-reception of the lower end 2e of the member 2a.

The method of. operating the rst form is as follows: i

For starting operation a lifting rope I6 is connected to the top part oftie-rod 2. After this the shaft by drawing the rope I4 downwardly isrotated to such an extent that the hook 3 is dis-` engaged. Uponloosening the lifting cable the tie-rod 2 with the parts attached to itwill drop down on account of its dead weight. The griphook I0 will latchwith ram I3. By means of lifting rope I6 the rod 2 is now liftedtogether with ram I3. In the uppermost position of the tie rod withrespect to the casing the hook 3 is automatically engaged with arm Illathus holding in engaged position the hook 3. This prevents the tie-rodfrom reentering the cylinder beyond a certain point, the reenteringaction being the means used to trip the hook free of the ram. Uponfurther upward action of the lifting cable the whole hammer is lifted,while hook I0 continues to engage the ram. The automatic re` leasing ofthe ram I3 is effected by sudden loosening of the lifting rope I6 afterthe ram has i come to rest on the pile head. By this means the tie-rod 2is moved a little downward in the casing thus causing hook I0 to bereleased.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the grip-hook l0 is already shown in itsdisengaged position. Rod 2v has already dropped down on account ofloosening the lifting cable. During this operation the contact facebetween parts l0 and 3 has been the centre of rotation about which hookI0 has rotated.

For starting the second modification, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the sleeve5 is disengaged from the top portion of the cylinder by pulling the rope|4a, thereby unlatching the dog 3a against the action of spring 4a. Uponloosening the hoisting cable I6 the tie-rod 2a together with sleeve 5travels down. When latch I 2 strikes the ram |3c (as shown in Fig. 3),the spring |Ia is compressed by the weight of the tie-rod. Then theweight of sleeve turns hook Ib about face Illd of its hoisting cableenters the cylinderthe ram I3c is The latch I2 acts on the hook |013,

provided with a bor 39.

The ram is thenhoisted within the cylinder, and upon furtherv tie-rod istravelling further down, the face ||ldv.10

of the hook no longer nds a support on the tierod. Hook |017 turnsaboutrbolt I9 in sleeve 5 accordingly, and the ram is unlatched from thehook.

By means of the latch I2 the grip-hook may be held in its disengagedposition, so that it will not be able to grip the ram I3c while thelatter is in operation, even if the lifting cable'IB is raised againuntil the member 2a has been fully raised.

The grip gear according to Figs. 4-14 for the ram comprises a cage withtapered levers I0c, as shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 1l and 13.Furthermore a wedge rod 2| is inserted from above into the slot 22 ofthe cage l2|), and the tapered levers I0c are pivoted within cage 2D bybolts 23. If the tapered levers |00 are to be released, the wedge rod 2|is lowered down to the face 24 of cage 20. The wedge rod 2| is securedto a drum 25 by means of a chain 3'I. Releasing levers 26 pivotallymounted on shaft 35 cooperate Withthe said wedge rod 2| and drum 25 insuch a way that levers 26 support the cage 20 by means of lugs28 on thecage 20. Y

If cage 20 is suspended .from the wedge rod 2|, the tapered levers I0cengage at their lower ends against the faces 29 on the lower end of therod and against faces 30 on the upper end of wedge rod 2|.

'I'he three views, Figs. 12, 13 and 14, showing the cage 20 clearlydisclose the suspension lugs 28, which rest on the faces 3| of releasinglever 26.

Fig. 11 shows an annular inclined shoulder 32, formed in the bore 33a ofram |3d and has a v steeper angle than face 29 of the wedge rod 2|.

As in Fig. 10 the releasing levers 26 are provided with an engagingspring 34 (see also Fig. 6) The levers 26 are fixed on the shaft 35 andthe-disengaging lever 8b for the cable Mb is also xed on shaft 35. 36designatesV a screwed in bolt securing the tie chain 31 to the drum 25.

For permitting a proper co-operation of members |0c with 32, for guidingcage 20, a pipewardly so that the chain 31 is unwound, the lugs 28 ofcage 20 will engage the surfaces V(II of the releasing levers 26, thelatter being retained by spring 34. Upon further downward movement, cage20 with the tapered levers Ic is latched,

while the-Wedge rod 2| continues to drop, thus! permitting the taperedlevers I0c to unlatch from the ram so that it may drop freely. Uponfurther rotation of drum 25, the-faces 40 of drum 25 engage faces 3|,Figs. 6 and 7, and are locked by releasing lever 26, so that during theoperation of A2radzone;

whatwe claim is:

vram |3d the wholeA lifting and releasing-mechpile. The ,cylinder Arod2| ycontinue to move so that thetapered ley,maintained in /its loweredposition and 'the' tapered leversv ||ic remain unlatchcd in orderpulley(Fig.

anism, comprisingl parts supported by the drum. The wedge rod 2| is thatthe ram i3d cannot be latched by the tapered levers iilc even in itsuppermost position.`

Upon dropping the' whole pile driving hammer with its ram lifted; the.speed of ram-|3d andof cylinder Ib will ybe the` same when meeting thewhile the tie member (chain) 31 and the wedge pressure of importance,bythe .action of the weight ofthe ram on the inclined surfaces of theltapered levers, the wedge rod 2| and ram Upon lifting the grip device,the releasing 1evers 26 automatically give way. For releasing the gripgear, the cable |4b is tensioned, releasing levers 26 by means of lever8b and shaft 35 compressing the engaging spring 34.

Diesel hammers of the larger sizes are difcult to lift by a single ropeand are preferably lifted by means of a cable passing around a loosepulley, such hammers having their height increased bythe constructionheight 4of the loose For reducing this extra construction height, a drum25 is arranged inside the cylinder ib, the said drum having a shaft 4|projecting laterally from the cylinder.

Toothed wheels 42 are mounted on both shaft ends and areengaged by racks43. The tops of said racks are connected uby a yoke 44 on which theloosepulley 45 is mounted.` The diameter of drum 25 in proportion of thediameter of the toothed wheels can be increased according to theproportion of the weight of ram i3d tol that of cylinder ib. The Weightlof cylinder ib should. however.' be considerably greater than that ofram i3d, not only for structural reasons but also in view of the factthat it will have to resist lift due to the retarding air pressure aboveram i3d. It thus will be possible to lift `the ram by means of rackshaving a considerably lower lift than the ram.

The chain wheel 25 and chain 31 with the rack 43 and the parts carriedby it are shown only by way of example as a particular embodiment for aspecial purpose of application of the invention, i. e. if the loosepulleyv45 is to be used (see Figs. 4 and 5). However, in the place ofsuch an auxiliary means a direct transmission may be used. The chain 31can be connected directly with the lifting cable or any connection knownin itself can be made with the said'cablev it being understood that thelocking partsliil and v 28 are made of corresponding shape.

If for any reasons the lifted ram i3d should not be released, thereleasing lever 26 may be prevented from engaging by pulling on cableI4b.

or when engaged the said lever can be released in the same way.

For reducing as much as possible the diameter of the chain drumv in thecylinder cover, the

tie member 31 is a link chain, one half comprising a single strand andthe other half comprising two chain strands, arranged to permit 13/4windings on the drum. For the same purpose a chain 31a according toFigs. 8 and 8a. could be used, the links of which are riveted togetherin staggered form and are wound on the drum in spiral shape.

20, Illc, 2|,v and 38:154

Ib will b e suddenly stopped,

ycylinder having operative connection with the Acylinder lifting means,ldownward'movement of said vertically and means controlled by movablemeans for releasing the latch from the groove andthereby freeing `theram.

2. In a device for thepurpose. set forth and having a cylinder, liftingmeans therefor and a ram slidable in said cylinder and provided with acircumferentially grooved recess in its upper end; latch means forreleasably holding the ram elevated in said cylinder including a pivotedlatch member movable into and out of the ram' lrecess to engage in saidgroove, means for urging the latch member in engagement in said groove,a tie rod slidable through the upper end of the cylinder, and meanscontrolled by downward movement of said tie rod for releasing the latchmember from the groove and thereby freeing the ram.

3. In a device for the purpose set forth andhaving a cylinder, liftingmeans therefor and a ram slidable in said cylinder and provided with acircumferentially grooved recess in its upper end; latch means forreleasably holding the ram elevated in said cylinder including a,pivoted latch member movable into and out of the ram recess to engage insaid groove, means for urging the latch member in engagement in saidgroove, a tie rod slidable through Vthe upper end of the cylinder, meanscontrolled'by downward movement of said tie rod for releasing the latchmember from the groove and `thereby freeing the ram, and manuallyreleasable means for preventing downward movement of the tie rod beyonda certain point.

4. In a device for the purpose set forth and having a cylinder,liftingmeans therefor and a ram slidable in said cylinder and providedwith a circumferentially grooved recessin its upper end; latch means forreleasably holding the ram elevated in said cylinder including a pivotedlatch member vmovable into and out of the ram recess to engage in saidgroove, means for urging the latch member in engagement in said groove,a tie rod slidable through the upper end of the cylinder, meanscontrolled by downward movement movement of the tie rod engaging thelatch member.

HUGO CORDES. PAUL PFEIFFER.

